54 communal riots, seven mob lynchings in Odisha since June 2024, says CM

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday said that there had been 54 communal riots and seven cases of mob lynching in the state between June 2024 and February, The Indian Express reported.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government led by Majhi assumed office on June 12, 2024.

The chief minister said that the most number of communal riots had been reported in the Balasore district, which recorded 24 such incidents. It was followed by 16 cases in Khurda district, which includes the state capital Bhubaneswar.

The police have arrested 298 persons for their alleged involvement in the riots. However, a chargesheet has been filed in less than half the cases, Majhi said.

The seven cases of mob lynchings were reported in the four districts of Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Balasore and Rayagada, The New Indian Express quoted him as saying. Sixty-one persons have been arrested in the cases.

The data was provided by Majhi while replying in the Assembly to a question asked by Biju Janata Dal leader Goutam Buddha Das.

In his response, Majhi also said that steps had been taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, including forming peace committees in several police station jurisdictions.

He added that the collection of intelligence inputs have been strengthened, and strict action is being taken against those trying to disturb peace and order in society.

In the past 20 months, six towns in Odisha have seen the imposition of curfew and internet suspension because of communal incidents, The Indian Express reported. In most cases, the perpetrators have been members of Hindutva outfits, the newspaper reported.

The Opposition has criticised the BJP government for an increase in communal tensions in the state, the newspaper reported.

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